USA Today bestselling author Loretta Chase continues her Difficult Dukes series with this delightful spin on Shakespeare’s classic, The Taming of the Shrew.This time, who’s taming whom… exasperated father, hoping a husband will rein her in, has ruled that her beloved sister can’t marry until Cassandra does.
Now, thanks to a certain wild-living nobleman, the last shreds of Cassandra’s reputation are about to disintegrate, taking her sister’s future and her family’s good name along with them.
The Duke of Ashmont’s looks make women swoon. His character flaws are beyond counting. He’s lost a perfectly good bride through his own carelessness. He nearly killed one of his two best friends. Still, troublemaker that he is, he knows that damaging a lady’s good name isn’t sporting.
The only way to right the wrong is to marry her…and hope she doesn’t smother him in his sleep on their wedding night.
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Ashmont was awful and wonderful, Cassandra was wonderful and awesome, and the whole lovely, lurching, slide from reluctant tolerance to co-conspirators to lovers to forever-after, meant-to-be, partners was as brilliant as it always is in Loretta Chase’s hands. Enough period details and the right period details to animate the post-Regency world; three dimensional supporting cast; lively family dynamics; and warm, witty, deft prose. I loved this book, and it could not have come out at a better time for me. Thanks again, Loretta Chase!
I loved this book. The hero is his Dis-Grace, the Duke of Ashmont. He is a notorious mischief-maker, banned from Court and, worse, from Almack’s — not because he ravished young ladies or cheated at cards, but because he is pure trouble, a notorious prankster, and “spectacular arsehole” (his own words, not mine). Cassandra Pomfret is equally outrageous, but because she is opinionated female, outspoken, and disastrously willful. She has a “Gorgon face” (her words, not mine) that can make men tremble or break into tears, and most certainly to run in the opposite direction. Getting these two opposites together (he is shallow, she is an intellectual) is simply a delight.
Like many Loretta Chase books, the dialog AND narrative crackle with wit. It’s like watching an episode of The Gilmore Girls or The Marvelous Mrs. Masel, where the dialog is so perfect, every word choice so deliciously precise, you sometimes have to rewind (or re-read, in this case) to hear it again and laugh harder. The verbal sparring between Cassandra and just about everyone else, but especially with the duke, is a joy to read.
I’m not even going to get into the plot. For me, it’s all about character, and these two just pop off the page. I highly recommend this book!
A must read hilarious, charming take on Shakespeare’s Taming of The Shrew (Ten Things I Hate About You-1999 film). Cassandra Pomfret fell in love with Lucius as a child. He showed her the stars and was her hero. As Lucius grew up to be the Duke of Ashmont, he refused to grow up to be a responsible adult. Drinking, fighting, gambling, etc., became his life. When Cassandra literally crashes into his life, this Duke will never be the same, no matter how many points he earns. LOL!!!!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
Ten Things I Hate About the Duke by Loretta Chase is an excellent historical fiction romance novel that is the second in a series titled: Difficult Dukes. I have to admit that I did not read the first book in this series before reading this one, however I had no problems following along whatsoever. However, I loved this book so much that I am now planning on reading the first book (and of course the next in the future).
I loved so many things about this book: the wonderful character cast including Cassandra and Ashmont (the Duke). They had great chemistry, wit, banter, and definitely played off of each other perfectly. They fit quite well into The Taming of the Shrew plot, and the story kept me engaged, entertained, and chuckling throughout. I also enjoyed how both characters grew and changed. It is always nice to see how characters can reflect, change, and improve versus being static, flat, and one-dimensional. Very creative and wonderfully entertaining. I can’t wait to read more!
5/5 stars
Thank you EW and Avon for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
After a confrontation with Mr. Titus Owsley, a member of the House of Commons, Miss Cassandra Pomfret’s father lays down the law – he forbids Cassandra’s younger sister Hyacinth to marry or even participate in a season until the outspoken, opinionated Cassandra is wed.
Needing to get away, Cassandra sets out with her groom and maid to visit her former governess, but she never anticipated that the recently jilted Lucius Beckingham, the Duke of Ashmont would be at the coaching inn getting drunk after dueling with the Duke of Ripley, his former best friend turned bride thief! Nor did she think he would try to quiet a restless crowd by shooting into the air and spooking her horse, causing an accident that injured her groom and threatened to ruin her reputation. Nor did she ever expect or want him to insist that she marry him!
Cassandrea will never admit it – but Lucius was her first love and her hero, but over the years she realized that he never noticed her and she closed off her heart. She is content to be a spinster and refuses to wed Lucius, but when they are caught alone together a second time, she hatches a plan, she still won’t marry him but does agree to pretend to agree to marry him – especially since it seems her father is willing to let Hyacinth attend events with them. But she is clear – she can’t trust him and will not marry him.
No one is more surprised than Ashmont when he realizes that he really wants to marry Cassandra and sets out to win her over. It will be a long, uphill battle to win her hand with more than one person set on keeping them apart. But this is a battle Ashmont intends to win and soon winning her hand is not enough, he wants more – he wants to win her heart!
This was a well written, fast paced, fun twist on The Taming of the Shrew. Cassandra and Ashmont are perfect for each other and provide the reader with lots of witty banter and amusing moments without dragging the story into the realm of silly or fluffy. The book has humor, betrayals, great secondary characters, more than one “villain”, warm love scenes, blackmail and a very, very sweet ending. This is the second book in the series, but it can certainly be read as a standalone title. I really loved this book and happily recommend this title!
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher. *
Ten Things I Hate About the Duke
A Difficult Dukes Series #2
Loretta Chase
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLorettaChase/
Release date 12/01/2020
Publisher Avon
USA Today bestselling author Loretta Chase continues her Difficult Dukes series with this delightful spin on Shakespeare’s classic, The Taming of the Shrew.
This time, who’s taming whom…
Cassandra Pomfret holds strong opinions she isn’t shy about voicing. But her extremely plain speaking has caused an uproar, and her exasperated father, hoping a husband will rein her in, has ruled that her beloved sister can’t marry until Cassandra does.
Now, thanks to a certain wild-living nobleman, the last shreds of Cassandra’s reputation are about to disintegrate, taking her sister’s future and her family’s good name along with them.
The Duke of Ashmont’s looks make women swoon. His character flaws are beyond counting. He’s lost a perfectly good bride through his own carelessness. He nearly killed one of his two best friends. Still, troublemaker that he is, he knows that damaging a lady’s good name isn’t sporting.
The only way to right the wrong is to marry her…and hope she doesn’t smother him in his sleep on their wedding night.
Will he be able to persuade her to give him another chance …
No need to say this long awaited sequel of A Duke in Shining Armor is awaited like Christmas Day by a child.
After the fun I had reading the previous book, I like many expected a lot from this one.
And I was not disappointed.
Cassandra and Ashmont are like oil and water, when together sparks fly and body parts are threatened.
After an encounter to remember for the age, and the scenes that ensue to be chaos to recall until next Armageddon.
They embark in a journey so very opposite of a smooth one. Each new meeting has the potential to ruin them as despite Cassandra’s leveled-head brain and Ashmont newfound goal, they can’t stop themselves from bumping lips.
Cassandra has never been the perfect lady in the making, she is too brazen, never one to cower, never afraid of speaking her mind.
She needs no one to stand for herself.
Since her young age, she scares men. Able to fend alone the bullies thinking they could hound her because she is a girl.
« She makes men cry »
Yet her younger self more than admired Lucius, the one young man who once stood for her as a boy. But it was years ago, before he threw his potential goodwill to the devil.
Ashmont is like a kid who suddenly has to grew up fast, having the blindfold removed quite violently. While jilted at the altar, he is far from heartbroken just dejected he lost the game. The last of the dis-graces to wed, and worse, his bride-to-be now newly married his best friend.
And his violent reacquainting with Cassandra is like ripping of a band-aid. He must face his shortcomings and straighten his acts if he can even get a bit of chance to see her look at him with anything else than contempt.
As the time they had been childhood friends is behind, when she worshiped him as her knight until he destroyed everything good she had seen in him.
She is like a wake alarm, after years of only acting like a spoiled child, she rubs his face in it. For him to understand while fun is fun, he also lost his way in meaningless pursuits. When Cassandra has found her path by helping the weakest.
But courting her will not be an easy act when he never had to refrain his needs, nor think about others outside opening his pockets to solve any of his misdeeds or mishaps with money. For once, he will have to put other’s needs before his, to listen to other’s plights and to think before acting.
In some way, they are very similar, both are brazen and have fiery temperament but each expressed it a different fashion.
Their course to their HEA is one bump after another, with aplenty of holes in between until he won back her trust he is damned to only see a shadow of her true self.
5 stars
I was granted an advance copy by the publisher Avon, here is my true and unbiased opinion.
https://www.facebook.com/429830134272830/photos/a.753683095220864/755506285038545/?type=3
3.5 stars
Cassandra Pomfret’s blunt plain-speaking has gotten her into hot water before, but now she’s gone a bit far and her father is exasperated. Not wanting to risk damage to his political career, Lord deGriffith issues an edict: Cassandra’s beloved younger sister must end her season and may not marry until Cassandra herself does. Now an encounter with a notoriously wild and rakish duke is sure to destroy what’s left of Cassandra’s reputation and take her sister, along with the rest of her family, down along with her.
Lucius Beckingham, the Duke of Ashmont, has the good looks of Adonis, but his bad behavior has made him persona non grata in many of the elite circles of London High Society. He’s at a bit of a low point now, having been jilted by his fiancé and the resulting duel nearly caused the death of his best friend. But even Lucius has a code and he won’t allow damage to a respectable lady’s reputation to stand. The best solution is to marry her, if only he can convince her she doesn’t hate him quite as much as she thinks.
I found this book to be charming, on the whole, but I do have some mixed feelings about it. The duke certainly needed a wakeup call and Cassandra was perfect for him in that regard. However, much of what she says to him is extremely rude and goes a long way towards making her unlikable. The fact that she treats him this way to protect her heart and because of her strong feelings for him is the only thing that made her tolerable for me and had me cheering for them as a couple. Lucius certainly had a lot of growing up to do and it was like he finally woke up when he noticed Cassandra and remembered her from their childhoods. He grew as a character by leaps and bounds and Cassandra did as well, in her own way. I loved the fact that, though it took a while, by the latter chapters of the book Cassandra and Lucius were confiding in each other and she was relying on him to be her partner. When they faced challenges, these two surprised me with their honesty with each other and reliance on each other to get through to the other side of the issue. That aspect made this story work for me, though I did lose some patience at times with the extremely slow pace. I would’ve liked to see a bit more comeuppance for our villain here, rather than this merely being an opportunity to show how Lucius had grown, but nonetheless the scene did still work here. This was my first read from this author and it did take a bit for me to get used to the writing style, especially the way the dialogue is written, but it made the banter a bit snappier and that worked here. My biggest issue is that for all of Cassandra’s self-described pining she did for the duke, I never really felt the depth of her feelings for him, even by the end really. Lucius’ falling for her made more sense and I just wish she hadn’t been so fickle and had given him more of a fair shake sooner. It took a long time for me to actually feel the connection between them and even by the end they still didn’t quite feel like they were on equal ground for me. By the end, Cassandra was a tolerable character I could root for and Lucius wound up being likable as well; I think he just needed someone to believe in him and expect more from him. The thing that most annoyed me in this reading was the near-constant reference to Greek mythology and the only issue I really had there was the use of, for instance, ‘Oh, Juno,” as an exclamatory. This just struck me as super awkward and annoying and pulled me out of the story a bit, but that’s probably just a personal idiosyncrasy of mine. I definitely think I would’ve enjoyed this more if I’d read the first book, which I plan to go back to, but I do look forward to Alice and Blackwood’s story.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Cassandra Pomfret and Lucius, the Duke of Ashmont collide into each other with Cassandra paying the price for his drunken prank. Her groom was hurt and her vehicle shattered in pieces, Ashmont does what he usually does–throw money at the problem and it usually goes away. Cassandra loathes Ashmont for his recklessness and especially since as a duke he could do so much good in the world. Ashmont starts a long road to sobriety and can’t stop thinking about Cassandra. With her groom injured, Cassandra needs a male to help with some of the charity work and she writes to Ashmont. He jumps at the chance to prove himself worthy of her affections. Can he redeem himself enough to win Cassandra’s heart?
I started reading this book, then put it down, read a few other stories and then came back to this one. I’m so glad I did because I absolutely loved this book! Ms. Chase weaves a story full of twists and turns and finally a HEA. I especially loved Cassandra–a strong woman willing to do anything to help others even putting herself in danger. Ashmont grew on me, but one of the stars of the book is Cassandra’s mother. In her own quiet way, she cleaned up a mess that could derail the happiness of Cassandra and Ashmont. I was sorry to see the book end as I would have loved to see what good these two could do together.
I voluntarily read the advanced reader copy and all opinions are my own.
I requested an ARC of this book, and all opinions are my own.
What isn’t there to love about this book? A repentant rake, a strong heroine, delightful side characters, and it’s based on Shakespeare’s ‘The Taming of the Shrew’… a sure-fire recipe for excellence.
We first met Lucius, Duke of Ashmont, in ‘A Duke in Shining Armor’ when his bride-to-be leaves him at the altar. He’s not known for being clear-headed, in fact he is most infamously known as part of the Dis-Graces – a trio of Dukes with an appetite for pranks, and mayhem of all sorts. By the end of that book, it is obvious, even to Lucius, that he needs to change his ways or risk being alone.
‘Ten Things…’ opens pretty much where the first book ended, and things are looking grim for Lucius. Chaos soon ensues – as it often does around him – with the entrance of Cassandra Pomfret. Cassandra is not at all impressed by the Duke, and wants nothing to do with him – even though he’s trying to make things right. There’s a bit of a history between them, which is not immediately recalled by those involved. She is strong-willed, but wants to do what is best for her sister and her family. Needless to say, anything that can go wrong does and the two find themselves getting closer as they try to get out of one scrape after another.
This book was a lot of fun to read, and while it would stand alone fine by itself, I recommend reading the first one – if only to see what Lucius was like before his transformation. Either way, you will be entertained and enchanted by this tale.
The second book in the Difficult Dukes series gives me so much joy and keeps me engaged during this stressful time. I’ve enjoyed it even better than the first book. It picks up immediately right after book 1, but it can be read as a standalone.
The Duke of Ashmont was jilted by his bride-to-be on his wedding day (book 1). He’s one of the trio Dis-Graces who are notorious rakes, pulling pranks at every occasions and pretty much barred from respectable social events. Ashmont is constantly in his drunken state and a hot mess, and I was just excited to see how he would transform himself .
Cassandra Pomfret is known in society as Medusa, or deGriffith’s Gorgon, or Cassandra Prophet of Doom . She speaks her mind since young, her sharp tongue and directness have given her father much headache. She’s grown up in the family where women are well respected, as her grandmother founded the Andromeda Society, a ladies’ charitable club that discusses current events and bills affecting women’s livelihood, and includes hands-on demonstrations of self-defense… Cassandra has made a life for herself and lived with a purpose, until one day Ashmont, His Grace with the Angel Face and her childhood crush, literally stumbles into her path again .
She loved him as a little girl, but she’s been disappointed again and again at how he’s turned out to be. It is an tough mountain that Ashmont has to climb to gain back her trust, and boy if she makes him work HARD !!! I love how she treats him like any other drunkard : hit him with a hat, throw water or teapot at him, or shove him over the railing … She also makes him realize his privileged life and how he could use his rank and power to help. I love how hard he tries to learn and read more to understand her, to put himself in her shoes, and to appreciate her intelligence, how sweetly he takes care of her (smoothing and fussing over ribbons and sleeve puffs like a true lady’s maid) *swoon* …
Even though their lovemaking scene doesn’t take place until the end , their irresistible chemistry, amazing character arcs, and intelligent conversations more than make up for it . (But don’t worry, you’ll still get some hot kisses and naughty play times !) I’ve also learned more about the attires, the culture, the society scenes during this period. The side characters from both families are wonderful, loving, and supportive. Overall, it’s such a fun, light-hearted, low-angst book that kept me on reading until the end.
5 read for me!
*Special thanks to Avon Books for gifting me the ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*
Cassandra Pomfret has strong opinions and isn’t afraid of voicing them. This has caused her no end of trouble but she refuses to change. Her exasperated father has ruled that her sister can’t marry until she does. When she is caught in a compromising situation with the Duke of Ashmont, her reputation will be ruined if they don’t stage a fake courtship and marriage.
Cassandra is an independent, vocal, and kind woman. She can take care of herself in most situations but she knows society will judge her harshly without a man around. I really liked her independence and intelligence. She was smart and wasn’t afraid to use her brains against people. She was the perfect wife for Ashmont because she tamed his parting attitude and showed him how to apply his cleverness to things other than pranks.
Ashmont wasn’t very likable at first. He was a drunk prankster who couldn’t see past his own life. The more time he spends with Cassandra the more he realizes that he has wasted his fortune and life away up till now. He still is mischievous but he sees the world outside his bubble now. He helps the less fortunate and doesn’t just start fights because he can. By the end, I really liked Ashmont.
Overall, this was a great historical romance. It was slow building and the romance grew stronger with each page. This was my first Loretta Chase book but I want to read more of her stuff now.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*
Cassandra has a frank way of speaking that leads her into trouble. Her father wants to marry her off but won’t let her sister marry until Cassandra secures a husband. Lucius Beckingham is a gorgeous man and a duke but is an immature disaster. Crossing paths with Cassandra will lead the two into marriage to save her reputation and family. Lucius wasn’t a likeable hero and Cassandra was too good for him.
I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and leaving a review.
I saw this book advertised at my library and so I grabbed it. I love the romcom 10 dates to lose a guy and I love regency romances. So, this title kind of grabbed me. The characters and the well written story were great. Many things were unexpected. It wasn’t your traditional cookie cutter regency or even one with just a few tweaks. It was original. It is steamy but thankfully only a short scene or two. This was my first time reading this author.
Loretta Chase has been one of my auto-buy authors since I read THE DEVIL’S DELILAH many years ago. She doesn’t disappoint, and in her latest, TEN THINGS I HATE ABOUT THE DUKE, she’s given us a new riff on another classic, one of my favorite films–Ten Things I Hate About You, which is, of course, an homage to The Taming of the Shrew.
Cassandra Pomfret does not suffer fools lightly, which has made the men of the ton unwilling to have anything to do with the oldest Pomfret daughter. When her exasperated father says her younger sister Hyacinth can’t wed until Cassandra finds a husband, she doesn’t want to ruin her younger sister’s life, but there isn’t a man she can tolerate.
Enter the Duke of Ashmont, literally crashing into her life. When she was a little girl he was her knight in shining armor, but now he’s a waste of air, in her opinion, and it’s a deserved observation. Ashmont spends his days drunkenly carousing, fighting, playing puerile practical jokes, driving away one bride, and nearly killing his best friend in an alcoholic duel. But now he’s put Cassandra in a compromising position and he knows one doesn’t tarnish a lady’s reputation without Doing the Right Thing, so he asks her to marry him.
Having a brain, she, of course says no. But Ashmont, who’s not the sharpest razor in his valet’s kit, begins to have _thoughts_. He reads a book. He focuses on what Cassandra’s saying…and there’s a taming occurring, but it’s not the “shrew” who gets changed.
There was much I loved about this book. First of all, Cassandra would have had a full life without Ashmont. She traveled, was able to take care of herself, and could easily have grown into an Auntie Mame character for her younger siblings, bringing their children interesting gifts from far off lands. She doesn’t need Ashmont.
He doesn’t need her if he’s going to continue down his path of dissipation, but if he wants to be a better human being, he knows he needs Cassandra by his side. And he does want to be better, and he wants to be her lover.
Chase does an outstanding job of bringing us Ashmont’s voice: the truncated sentences, the sometimes foggy thinking, and his slow but steady progress. I loved to read this for the author’s craft, and it’s a good writing lesson for budding romance authors.
Chase continues to provide her legion of fans with quality romance reading, showing us that you can take something old and make it new again, and leave smiling readers at the end.
Cassandra is lively, the Duke is a wastrel. Can these two get together? I loved this tale of opposites and their courtship. Bravo, Loretta Chase!
This is my absolute favorite kind of romance novel-wonderful characters and side splitting humor page after page. I loved it and recommend it to everyone even if you have never read a romance novel or think that you never would read a romance novel or don’t like romance novels. READ THIS BOOK–it is a great read and a fun, rollicking ride every step of the way.
I simply love Loretta Chase’s sophisticated wit and sly characterizations, and so far the Difficult Dukes series has all the goodies I want. In this book, Ten Things I Hate About the Duke, one of the Dis-Graces, the Duke of Ashmont, comes to his senses after a life of pranks and profligacy to realize the bluestocking he defended when she was an awkward girl is the perfect woman for him, and not only because he needs a respectable match. The trick is convincing her of that fact. The outspoken Cassandra must marry before her beautiful younger sister is allowed to participate in society, a la “The Taming of the Shrew,” but will she compromise her principles to marry Ashmont? The journey is delightful as their attraction becomes impossible to deny and they help each other find their truth and happiness.
If I could rate this on a scale of 1 to 100—I’d give it a full 100. I LOVED every page–loved how Loretta Chase took flawed, problematic characters and turned them into some of my fav characters ever. Every page was filled with delicious conflict and the kind of dialogue that just makes me you smile and get that warm-I-don’t-want-this-to-ever-end feeling. Loretta was the reason I fell back in love with historicals 20+ years ago and she’s one of the reasons I continue to think it’s the best genre to read. 5 stars. Amazing read. Highly, highly recommend!
Enjoyable read with great characters. Will Hyacinth get a story of her own?
Oh my goodness. If I tell you this is a bluestocking and a rake story, I’d be doing you a disservice. Clever plotting, careful character development, original events and dialog, humor, romance–the author delivers it all in stellar, brilliantly written prose. More than once I wanted to stop and copy her words. The description of Rotten Row in Hyde Park on a hot Sunday in July alone is priceless and just one of many lovely bits. Let me drop a quote from the final scene. “But he saw her now, truly saw her, as no other man did or probably ever would. He’d take pains to see her truly.” SIGH